Norwich City of Stories
Forget what you might have heard: Norwich will surprise you. From cobbled streets to avant-garde galleries, from picturesque parks to pie and peas on our famous market, Norwich has everything you need. And some more you didn’t know you needed. Trust us – this is the place where the road leads.
Norwich is a city of myths and folklore. Here you’ll find dragons, Green Men in our cathedrals and secret streets in chalk- mine crypts. Famously, we’re said to have had a pub for every day and a church for every week of the year. Now you’ll find music and circus in our churches, as well as stunning architecture and a sense of calm. The pubs still punctuate our lanes, plains and yards – home to friends and a pint of something local, as ever.
Travel through the ages on our streets, moving from the medieval charm of Elm Hill – which you might recognise from big screen blockbusters – to Georgian splendour and Victorian promenades, with Norman landmarks in between, as well as stunning modern structures, like our award-winning library in The Forum. You’ll see the compass point of Norwich Cathedral spire from every corner of the city. Turn a corner and spot our proud castle, nicknamed the ‘square box on the hill’. Don’t forget to look up!
On the way, you’ll notice we’re a friendly lot. We have our favourite places, and we’re not afraid to chat. There are plenty of characters too, perfect for a city of writers: after all, Norwich is a UNESCO City of Literature (the first in England too). Pop into one of our bookshops to pick up a tale scrawled in our neck of the woods – we’ve Booker Prize winners, indie hits and bestsellers galore: perfect for the City of Stories.
What pairs better with books and conversation than caffeine? We don’t do bad coffee here – no surprise when you find out we consume the most coffee per capita in the UK (or at least we did in 2020). Our cafe scene is unbeatable, with excellent independents and favourite chains, plus some exceptional bakeries to go alongside. Hungry too? We’ve got a vibrant street food scene on our 900-year-old market (fusing old and new is what we do), and an impressive vegan offering, as well as some outstanding fine dining. Here, local produce is king.
Norwich is also the only city in the UK in a National Park – the world-famous Norfolk Broads – so it’s no wonder our green spaces are gorgeous. We’ve city- centre pocket parks, acres of woods, wild-meadow churchyards and beautifully kept gardens, as well as two winding rivers (keep an eye out for otters and kingfishers!). This is a city with space to breathe: one where you can slow down... or speed up. Pack your day full of activity: paddle boarding, axe throwing, escape rooms, bowling, rollerblading, canoe pub-crawling, cocktailmasterclasses. Hit the shops: we’ve got malls, stalls and indies alongside favourite famed names. Get some culture in – from visual arts to literary events to museums to theatre to gigs galore. Meet a pal (or two) for a pint of local brew, or an artisan cocktail made with one of our city gins. Ask one of our City Hosts where to go or what to do. Take the kids to meet some dinosaurs, or experience the world from a steam train, or hire a boat so they can try their hand on the tiller. Just bring yourselves and a sense of adventure.
